A new campaign to protect the Arctic has launched in the capital, backed by the fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.

A new photography exhibit in Waterloo station shows 60 celebrities promoting the campaign to stop drilling in the polar region by the oil company Shell, which is planned to go ahead this month.

The campaign lauched by Greenpeace is asking Londoners to sign their online pettition to #SaveTheArctic, aiming to reach 10 million signitures.

London Live were at the launch of the campaign.

We got in touch with Shell to comment on the petittion and the allegations made by the activists.

A Shell spokesman said: "Shell respects the right of people to protest against the activities we undertake to ensure the world's energy needs are met.

“However, it is disappointing that yet again, Greenpeace chooses to focus on mounting publicity stunts rather than engage constructively in the debate about how to meet the world’s growing demand for energy while reducing CO2 emissions.

“We believe we can play an important role in developing the Arctic’s energy resources. We choose to explore there because we have the expertise and experience to operate responsibly and be profitable at the same time.

“Many Arctic peoples and governments agree with that judgment. They support the opportunity to explore for oil and gas in their territories and those governments have awarded Shell the licenses to conduct those operations.”

“The reality is that hydrocarbons will remain a major part of the world's energy system for many years, not least because they provide the path to prosperity for many millions of people in the developing world, enabling them to enjoy living standards that the western world takes for granted.

“Shell is actively engaged in developing solutions to the global energy challenge. We are pioneering Carbon Capture and Storage technology, calling for a robust global price on carbon, and producing more gas, the least CO2-intense hydrocarbon. We are working with many constructive NGOs and other organisations on these and other issues, in order both to raise the level of public understanding of the energy challenge and to ensure that the world moves towards a lower-carbon, higher energy future.”